Wonderland Trail 2 Loop Finisher

Click here for the regular blog post on the three segments making up my 2018 hike of the Wonderland.

Without repeating myself in this 2018 hike section, I’ll synopsize these two days; an incredible weather window that just couldn’t be passed up. In order to avoid involving anyone else for logistics, I decided to finish the trail by positioning myself via bike and looping back twice. I started at Longmire for the short day on Sunday, October 21st. This allowed me to hike the Wonderland from Box Canyon to Longmire. On day two I drove to Box Canyon, retrieved my steed from the forest, and biked to the north side of the park at the Fryingpan Creek trail head, which is just a few miles before White River. This allowed me to hike from Fryingpan Creek to Box Canyon, taking me past Summerland, over Panhandle Gap and the Cowlitz Divide via Indian Bar, then regaining my vehicle. Then it was just a matter of driving around to pick up my bike.

Details are in the blog post above, but this proved to be superbly enjoyable. Aside from easy access areas like Reflection Lakes and Summerland, I had the trail to myself. The latest I had done the Wonderland in the past was October 1-3 in the 90’s, also taking advantage of superb weather. As this week wears on the forecast calls for snow levels to drop to 4500 feet, so winter is afoot. It was a sublime experience to cover this section of the trail this late in the season without contending with snow (there were a few icy spots before Panhandle Gap from previous snowfall that had not melted out).

I’m putting this year’s Wonderland as my #31, unique in both the execution and timing for the three segments. There’s always something new to experience on this excursion, no matter how many times I’ve set foot to the trail over the years. Reference the map above for loop particulars, the total stats were 79 miles with 13,300’ of elevation gain/loss.

A full photo gallery of the Wonderland hikes can be seen here. Cheers!

Alpenglow on Point 5920: Wonderland Trail above Indian Bar

Golden Lakes/Colonnade

These posts will cover all the areas I'm visiting in the confines of Mt. Rainier National Park in celebration of 35 years exploring here, including new places with a smattering of old.

One can find solitude in the Park....you just have to work for it. I got an early start (6:45) to bike the length of the West Side Road (9 miles) to visit a few isolated areas at this time of year. I really didn't expect to see anyone as Wonderland early season hikers have had mixed success on the trail, with many turning back due to snow levels. However, I ran across a dad/daughter couple leaving the North Puyallup River Camp and ended up hiking with them to Golden Lakes, a very nice time indeed. Despite weighty packs they were booking...I stuck with them but had I been alone I would have scaled back a bit due to the length of the day. But hey, good training! We hung out at Golden Lakes for a bit, eating and taking pix; then they were on their way to Mowich Lake for the night, which shouldn't have been too bad because the road isn't open yet.

The trail to Silver Forest was snow free but once in the woods there was still quite a bit of snow to the Sunset Patrol Cabin. However, nothing to impede navigation. George and Molly told me they bypassed Klapatche Park because of reports of the snow between So. Puyallup and No. Puyallup, descending to the West Side Road. Can't blame them as they described a miserable day on snow in the rain their day before; they were diggin' the blue skies and great weather for sure.

I back tracked to Silver Forest on the Wonderland and proceeded cross country to the ridge that leads to the Colonnade. Flowers were just peeking out from recent clearing of snow melt, with miniature avalanche lilies embracing their short bloom cycle. The ridge was clear of snow until a steep section at 5800 feet, and I didn't have the desire, time or legs to scramble up the south side for a few hundred feet of elevation gain with essentially the same view. So I got my drink and snack on and beat feet down to the Wonderland, as I still had some distance to go. I figured I could regain my bike by 7 and be back at my vehicle before dark, which worked out perfectly. This was a long day for me at 38 miles (18 biking, 20 hiking) with 7,000' of elevation gain, but all in all a wonderful day in perfect weather, with a little socializing and lots of solitude.

 

Some color on the ridge to the Colonnade

Snow melt feeds myriad creeks on the Wonderland Trail

A Golden Lake

Summerland

These posts will cover all the areas I'm visiting in the confines of Mt. Rainier National Park in celebration of 35 years exploring here, including new places with a smattering of old.

On the second day of our weathered out climbing weekend, 4 of us decided to visit Summerland. The day brought temps in the 40's with intermittent snow showers and misty rain. Varying depths of snow were met on the trail out of Fryingpan Creek trailhead, but once we arrived at the bridge across Fryingpan Creek, snow was continuous. We attempted to follow the summer route up the snow covered switchbacks, but steep slopes with poor run outs and no ice axes had us deciding to return via the winter route, bypassing this section by end running and paralleling the Creek until intercepting the bridge and usual trail. With low cloud ceilings none of us was compelled to visit Panhandle Gap with no visibility, but on the way back there were very occasional sun breaks, lighting up the snow covered terrain and casting shadows, a real treat. Most of my hikes are solo so spending a weekend with an eclectic group of souls with ages ranging from 27 to 70 was a real treat indeed. Maybe next time we can finally get up Little Tahoma. Today's hike involved 9 miles and 2300 feet of elevation.

Our return route avoided the steep wooded section via the winter route (6/10/18

View from the Summerland Shelter toward Panhandle Gap (6/10/18)

Klapatche Park

These posts will cover all the areas I'm visiting in the confines of Mt. Rainier National Park in celebration of 35 years exploring here, including new places with a smattering of old.

I wanted to scout the snow levels above 5000' for an upcoming trip up the Puyallup Cleaver, plus see how the West Side Road was faring. There were a few short sections of snow before Round Pass (4000') that required pushing the bike, but these were easily managed. Thanks to the person or people who place the flags at the Marine Memorial, very nice display this year right before Memorial Day. I paid my respects, then continued on bike up the West Side road to St Andrews. The park has placed some nice log bike racks at each of the trail heads. I was obviously wrong in my prediction last year that the extensive improvements to the WSR meant that shuttle service would begin this year. Although I didn't continue on the road to Klapatche Point, the road is in good condition with the usual branches and twigs and detritus with only one fallen tree to carry over; however, there is a substantial washout about half a mile from St Andrews that will require shoring up to keep the road open after this season (still enough room to drive around it). I stashed the bike in the rack and proceeded up the St Andrews trail, not encountering any snow until 5100'. Not my favorite for navigation, dirty forest snow, but the section was short and the trail emerged somewhat to deposit me on the snow covered meadow leading to Klapatche Park. Looks like this level at 5500' will be cleared out with continuing melt by the middle of July, which bodes well for Wonderland hikers from July onward. Today stats: 23 miles/4200' elevation.

Solitude anyone? My footprints approaching Klapatche Park (5/24/18)

Stashing the steed at St. Andrews Creek on the West Side Road (5/24/18)